Interim Head of Collections

The Jewish Museum London seeks an Interim Head of Collections at a pivotal moment for the Museum. As we work towards a new permanent home, the Museum will be opening a dedicated interim space in June 2026. The role of Interim Head of Collections is responsible for the overall management and care of the museum’s collection, alongside the development and project management of the Museum’s exhibitions and displays. They will oversee all aspects of acquisition, documentation, preservation, storage, and access to artifacts, ensuring their long-term integrity while aligning with the museum’s mission and research goals. They will have strategic oversight of the presentation of both items within the Museum’s core collection and those on loan from external sources, through in-house exhibitions and external temporary displays. The role includes the need to work closely with our freelance curator and to manage the collections officer.

Key Responsibilities

• Assistance with project management and planning of all temporary exhibitions based within the Museum’s ‘Two Rooms’ spaces at JW3.
• Oversight and strategic management of all collections related Arts Council England NPO activities including external displays with partners in different regions of the UK, contemporary collecting initiatives, processing of backlog archives, and co-production creative projects inspired by the collection.
• Oversight of all digital and online collections dissemination.
• Submitting Accreditation Returns to Arts Council England, ensuring all collections policies and procedures are to spectrum standards and reflect the current activities of the museum.
• Managing Axiell collections management system ensuring records have accurate data, and updated use of minority inclusive language.
• Responsibility for the collections care of 35,000 objects in Museum’s Designated collections, ensuring adequate insurance, environmental conditions, and high standards of collections care during storage, transport, displays and use of objects in learning programmes.
• Responsibility for regular storage facility checks and liaison regarding the security and environmental conditions required for the Designated collections.
• Line management of the Collections Engagement Officer.
• Managing collections’ related budgets and collections’ project budgets, working with the Finance Director to create annual budgets and keep track of expenditure.
• Providing information and support for fundraising applications to develop collections engagement and collections care.
• Reporting as required for all funded projects on progress and completion.
• Reporting on collections activity to trustees in advance of board meetings.
• Attend Senior Leadership Team meetings and contribute to development for annual business planning.

Qualifications / Skills / Technical Competencies

• Demonstrable evidence of Collections Management, Collections Care, and Collections Engagement skillsets, with a minimum 5 years of experience with collections and exhibitions work in a museum, archive, or heritage setting.
• Extensive experience in museum collections management, including acquisition, documentation, conservation, and storage practices.
• Demonstrable project management skills, grounded in strong organisation skills, with evidence of delivering temporary exhibitions within timeframes and budgets.
• Demonstrable leadership skills with the ability to manage a team of professionals and prioritise projects.
• Ability to work with a diverse array of people, including Museum visitors (in person or online), supporters, clients, vendors, volunteers, and staff, in both large and small groups with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including researchers, collectors, and other institutions.
• Strong knowledge of relevant museum standards, ethics, and legal frameworks.
• Proficiency in collections management software and database systems. Previous collections database experience is required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including SharePoint and Teams.
• Able to take initiative and anticipate actions that are needed.
• Ability to multi-task and conceptualize steps involved in implementing projects.
• Genuine interest in museums, heritage and Jewish history.
• Full clean driving licence.